Masking panel construction for



March 24, 1964 s, sc 3,125,813

MASKING PANEL CONSTRUCTION FOR "PROGRAM TEACHING" USE Filed Nov. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. FRANK 57ANLEY$CHADE BY 66. 0 72! I Manny's /8 /0 March 24, 1964 s, SCHADE 3,125,813

MASKING PANEL CONSTRUCTION FOR "PROGRAM TEACHING" USE Filed Nov. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m- 4 98 m4 m2 M4 v "If 1 I 94 92 a4 A L22 4P6 33 L64 I a Y INV EN TOR. FRANK STANLf) SCHADE BY 5%; +77! Mani/5 United States Patent 0.

3,125,813 MASKING PANEL CGNSTRUCTION FOR ERUGRAM TEACHING USE Frank Stanley Schade, Holyoke, Mass, assignor to National Biank Book Company, Holyoke, Mass, a

corporation at Massachusetts Filed Nov. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 156,007 12 tllaims. (Cl. 35-9) This invention relates to improvements in slidable masking panel devices designed for use in connection with program teaching sets of questions and answers and in particular to a simplified construction providing stop means to set an upper and lower limit of masking panel travel. More specifically the invention is designed to incorporate simplified stop means in masking panel devices of the type disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial No. 123,949, Serial No. 122,544 and Serial No. 125,228.

As described in said applications the masking members per se are flexible panels or flaps connected to marginal anchoring strip members by which the flaps are positioned transversely to cover an underlying page containing prepared questions and answers, arranged in columnar areas on the page. The masks are slidably related to the strip members by interfitting tracking portions. The slidably related tracks or mating portions which link the masks and anchoring strips are in the preferred forms of construction formed by sections cut from endless lengths of extruded plastic material. ments as disclosed in said applications it is at times a relatively easy matter for the flexible masks to inadvertently slide off the ends of the attaching strip. This is true particularly at the lower edge end of the strip inasmuch as the user in normal operation of the device will bring the top edge of the mask downwardly far enough to uncover the lowermost answer on the underlying page.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a unique stop construction which will prevent such inadvertent separation endwise of the strip to which it is joined.

Such stop means preventing separation from the lower edge will, as a primary objective, eliminate inadvertent removal. Additionally, provision for such a lower stop will signal the user that the final question and answer on an underlying page has been completed. This invention in its preferred form also provides a stop limiting travel of the masking flap upwardly of the page. While inadvertent separation is not as likely to occur from the top end of the strip, an upper stop serves to automatically position or register the mask along an attaching strip edge in correct relation to cover the next succeeding programmed sheet which is to be used therewith and again in an underlying relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with the stop means, as will be disclosed herein, a convenient handle or tab by which the masking slide may be manipulated to travel more easily along the attaching strip.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention incorporated in a masking device suitable for use in a conventional three ring binder;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of an alternative construction embodying the stop means of the present invention and incorporated in a masking device of a specifically different type;

Accordingly, in the arrange- 3,125,813 Patented Mar. 24., 1964 FIG. 4 is an enlarged section on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing still another modification of the stop means assembly and in still another form of masking apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

The stop means disclosed herein is specifically designed for incorporation in a type of masking flap as described in connection with each of the devices or units shown in the above mentioned co-pending applications. In other words the stop means of the present invention can be incorporated in the sliding mask construction of a unit, first, in which the mask device is associated with a transparent panel notched at its margin to fit on the rings of a conventional three ring binder, or, secondly, a unit in which the masking device is adapted to be removably mounted on the relatively stiff cover panel of a spiral wire bound or other similarly constructed pad of sheets on which a set of programmed questions and answers is printed, or, thirdly, in which the mask anchoring means is an integral and permanent part of a notebook cover or portfolio assembly. In all cases the features of the present invention are of advantage in providing a positive guard or stop to prevent the mask from sliding off either end of the tracking means on which it is mounted.

In the drawings FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a construction in which a panel support member is in the form of a relatively stiff transparent sheet 2 having notches indicated at 4 for receiving the rings 6 of a conventional three ring binder mechanism. The ring metal is at 8 with the hinged covers It) and back panel 12. In this embodiment the masking panel or flap l4 and composite anchoring or attaching strip assembly at 16 is associated with the support 2. It will be evident that in use transparent panel support 2 may be placed as shown on the rings 6 in overlying position on a stack of program teaching pages as at 18 and each page in turn viewed through the panel 2. In this event the panel 2 may be detached from the rings when the top page is completed and then inserted to overlie the next succeeding page. It will be equally as apparent that a stack of pages could be received on the upper surface of the support 2, the masking flap 14 directly overlying the topmost page of the stack in which case the pages may be successively turned as each is completed all as will be understood in the art.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 the masking device shown is adapted for removable attachment to a bound pad of program teaching pages shown at 2% and supported on a panel member as a cover 22. The binding means for the cover and pages is not shown herein. It may be of any conventional type as a spiral wire binding etc. Here the attaching assembly indicated at 24 on which the masking flap slides is afiixed to the cover panel by a channeled resilient clamp bar 26 holding a folded portion snugly positioned at the outer edge of cover 22. The masking flap unit may be removed and used on another similarly bound pad of pages by simply withdrawing clamping bar 26 from the edge.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 a mask attaching assembly 3%) is shown integrally afiixed to a cover panel 32. These parts are joined as by electronic Welding, being of heatsealable thermoplastic material. In this unit a bound pack of programmed pages is adapted for mounting in predetermined positional relation to the masking flap as by a pocketed cover panel construction. The entrance to the pocket is indicated at 34. The pages 36 are bound by a spiral wire 37 between stiff paper covers, one of the covers 38 being tucked in the pocket.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 the preferred construction of an assembly incorporating a stop projection and abutment means will be described in connection with this disclosure the assembly 16 could be incorporated in 3 a detachable unit such as that of FIG. 3 or an integral unit as that of FIG. 5.

The attaching means assembly 16 comprises an elongated composite mounting strip on which the masking flap 14 slides vertically of an underlying page. As will be well understood in the art a mask is moved downwardly in successive steps to uncover a series of sequentially arranged questions and answers arranged in adjacent columnar areas on a page, these areas being indicated at a and b and separated as by the dotted line shown. The inner edge of the strip is formed with a plurality of downwardly facing longitudinal groove and rail structures constituting a track means indicated by numeral 59. The track 50 extends from the top to the bottom of the support 2 and receives a similarly formed portion 52 with upwardly facing grooves and rails at the inner edge of the masking flap 14.

The mating interfitting members 56 and 52 are preferably formed as extrusions of thermoplastic material at the edges of web portions 54 and 56, respectively. Web 54 is fixed on the panel 2. Web as is fixed at the inner edge of mask 14. Above and below the handle piece 70 shown in section in FIG. 2 and to be later described, web 56 as indicated in FIG. 1 is heat sealed in ribbed fashion to the edge of the mask. (See also FIGS. 4 and 6.)

The composite strip also includes strip portion 58 of heat-sealable material underlying web 54 and track portion 50. Both web 54 and strip portion 58 are heat sealed along their outer edge portions at the extreme edge of the support 2. This heat sealing engagement at 64) extends from the top to the bottom of the support 2. Transverse end seals forming abutments at the top and bottom edges of the support are provided as at 62. A channel-like pocket 64 is thus formed between web 54 and member 58, the pocket being closed at the top and bottom ends.

Projecting into the pocket 64 is a stop 68 positioned adjacent the upper edge of the masking member 14. As best shown in FIG. 2 the stop projection 68 is an in tegral part of a tab or handle piece 70 secured at the inner edge of the mask 14 in the area of attachment of web 56 to mask 14. The handle piece is also provided with a hinged finger grip portion 72. The handle and stop piece 70 is of relatively stiff character and the apertures 74 are provided for better hinging action of the finger grip portion. The piece 70 is preferably also of thermoplastic material and may be welded as shown at 76 to web 56 (FIG. 2) with the edge of web 56 welded as at 78 to the mask 14 in the area of the apertures 74.

The position of handle 72 immediately adjacent the track and near the top of the mask, as in FIG. 1, means that the user grasping the handle may slide the mask 14 quite easily for movement up and down on track 54 The lower limit of mask movement is shown in phantom at the bottom of the support 2., the laterally projecting stop 63 having engaged the abutment means formed by the lower welded area 62. As will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art this lower position of the mask will be at a location for exposure of a final answer appearing in the appropriate columnar area on the page. Not only does the stop projection prevent the mask from sliding ofi" this lower end but operates as a signal to the user that no further material appears under the mask on the underlying page.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 and in FIGS. 5 and 6 two modifications of the end abutment means are illustrated, the units shown being respectively the detachable masking apparatus and the masking apparatus as integrally provided in a notebook or portfolio construction. In each of these modifications the material of the masking panel or flap, and the attaching portions are preferably of heat sealable thermoplastic material for suitably joining the parts by welding.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 the detachable masking apparatus held on cover panel 22 by the gripping channel bar 26 is shown with the mask attaching assembly 24 having a web of tracking portion 82 secured by welding to an underlying strip member 84 of substantial width. The member 34 underlies the track 82 at its inner section, and is reversely folded at its outer section to embrace the edge of cover 22 and be there held by bar 26. At the top and bottom ends of the web 80 the material of the web and track is reversely turned downwardly with the track portion additionally being cut for endwise passage of the interfitting portion 86 of a web 88 which is secured to the edge of the masking panel 9%. The folded portion of the web 89 and track 82 is tucked to lie on the end portion of the underlying member 84. The track 82 is flattened and heat sealed to member 84, as indicated at 83, and thus an end abutment is formed by the folded portion of web 80 as indicated at 92 in FIG. 4. In FIG. 3 these reversely folded portions are shown at 34. It will be apparent that the nose or projection 96 of a stop piece 98 secured at the inner edge of a masking panel 100 will engage the end abutments as at @2 (FIGS. 3 and 4) to limit the travel of the mask. The action is similar in all respects to that of the mask 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, a finger tab handle 102 extending inwardly of the sealed area securing the stop piece. It will also be noted that the stop piece is sealed on top of the mask and thus the web 88 is slit at 194 to receive the projection 96 with the channeled pocket formed adjacent the track.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 the integrally arranged apparatus is shown with the mask attaching assembly 30 heat sealed along the edge of the cover panel 32. In this form a web carries the track and is reversely folded upwardly at the top and bottom end edges, the track being slit for endwise travel of the mask as in the form of FIGS. 3 and 4. The fold line or uncut portion of the reversely turned web 110 as at 111 provides the end abutment for the projecting nose 112 of a stop piece with finger tab portion 114 secured at the edge of the masking panel as in the form shown in FIG. 3. Overlying the web 110 and track portion is a strip member 116 forming with the web a channel pocket in which the projection 112 slides during movement of the masking panel. At the top and bottom ends the reversely folded sections of web 110 are heat sealed in overlying position to member 116. It will be noted (FIG. 6) that the edges of panel 32, web 110, member 116 and the reversely folded section of the web are all heat sealed, the masking panel thus being held in fixed positional relation to the supporting cover panel member 32 and to the pages of the spiral wire bound set of pages mounted on the cover.

Having disclosed the invention and described in detail several illustrative embodiments thereof, what is claimed 1. Program teaching mask apparatus for pages prepared with a series of sequentially arranged questions and answers in adjacent columnar areas on said pages comprising,

a support member,

a masking member vertically slidable relative to said support,

means holding said masking member in a predetermined positional relation transversely of said support member, said means including an elongated slide,

a pocket-like channel extending in fixed relation from the top to the bottom of said support,

and an abutment blocking oil at least one end of said channel means associated with said masking slide member extending into said channel 7 said abutment being engageable by the last-named means and limiting travel of the masking member relative to said support member.

2. Program teaching mask apparatus for pages prepared with a series of sequentially arranged questions and answers in adjacent columnar areas on said pages comprising,

a support member,

a masking member vertically slidable relative to said support,

means holding said masking member in a predetermined positional relation transversely of said support memher, said means including an elongated track and an adjacent pocket-like channel extending in fixed relation from the top to the bottom of said support, and, at the inner edge of said masking member slidable means fitting said track,

an abutment blocking off at least one end of said channel,

and a laterally projecting member fixed at the slidably fitted edge of the masking member and extending into and slidable in said channel,

said abutment being engageable by said projection and limiting travel of the masking member relative to said support member.

3. Program teaching mask apparatus for pages prepared with a series of sequentially arranged questions and answers in adjacent columnar areas on said pages comprising a support member,

a masking panel vertically slidable relative to said support member,

a mask attaching strip member,

means fixing said strip member in predetermined positional relation to said support member,

said strip member having tracking means and an adjacent pocket-like channel extending from the top to the bottom of the support member, 7

abutment means blocking oif at least one end of the channel,

and, at the inner edge of said masking panel, means slidably engaging said tracking means and including a member projecting into and slidable in said channel formation,

said abutment means being engageable by said projecting member and limiting travel of said masking panel relative to said support member.

4. In a masking device for programmed sets of questions and answers sequentially arranged in adjacent columnar areas on a pack of printed pages held in predetermined underlying relation to a masking panel and in which said panel is slidably engaged by tracking means positioned in predetermined relation to a support for said pages;

means for limiting the travel of said masking panel endwise of said tracking means comprising,

a channel extending in adjacent relation longitudinally of said tracking means and forming a pocket associated therewith,

abutment means blocking oif at least one end of said channel and a stop member fixed at the edge of said masking panel projecting into said channel,

said abutment means lying in the path of travel of said projecting stop member and limiting endwise movement of said masking panel.

5, Masking apparatus for program teaching pages having a series of sequentially arranged questions and answers in adjacent columnar areas on said pages and comprising a support member,

a masking panel vertically slidable relative to said support member,

an attaching strip member and means affixing one edge thereof to said support member from the top and bottom of the latter,

the edge of said strip member opposite said one edge having tracking means in spaced parallel relation to said affixed edge,

said masking panel having slidably interfitting edge portions mating with said tracking means,

a stop projection fixed on said masking panel extending laterally beyond said interfitting portion thereof into the intermediate area between said affixed edge and parallel tracking means of said marginal strip member,

and abutment means in said intermediate area of the strip member engageable by said stop projection to limit travel of said masking panel relative to said support member.

6. The combination of a panel support having connecting means along one edge for cooperation with a binding mechanism to hold a stack of pages on which a set of program teaching questions and answers are arranged in adjacent columnar areas on said pages,

a flat masking flap mounted in overlying position on said support, and

means connecting the support and flap for limited sliding movement of the flap to successively uncover selected portions of an underlying page,

said flap connecting means comprising a flexible strip member along one edge of the support held in fixed relation thereto and having an inner edge portion in hinged relation to the support,

the said strip inner edge portion and a connecting fiap edge portion having mating slidably interfitted means for moving said flap,

a tab projecting from the edge of the flap beyond said mating edge portions and an abutment at the end of the said strip engageable by said tab to limit the slidable travel of said flap.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said flexible strip member is of heat-scalable material and of two part construction comprising,

a flat underlying portion having an outer marginal section adapted for anchoring to said panel support edge,

and a superposed portion overlying the inner section of the underlying portion and having at its inner edge a tracking means for mating with the complementary interfitting means at said connecting flap edge portion,

the marginal edges of said superposed section being heat sealed to the underlying portion transversely at the top and bottom and therebetween in spaced relation to said tracking means, thereby forming an elongated pocket in which said projecting tab of said masking flap is received for limited sliding action.

8. In combination, a flat support member,

a masking panel member overlying said support,

an elongated composite mounting strip slidably retaining said panel member and extending between the top and bottom of said support, said composite strip comprising a flexible member of thermoplastic sheet material having longitudinal inner and outer portions, the outer portion being anchored to said support member, the inner portion being hingedly related to the support,

a pocket forming member of heat scalable thermoplastic material overlying said inner portion and sealed along the edge of said outer portion and at the top and bottom edges of said inner portion inwardly of the free edge of said pocket member,

said pocket member along its free edge having tracking means slidably engaging the edge of said masking member,

and a stop member fixed to said masking member adjacent the top edge thereof and projecting in underlying relation to said tracking means into the pocket formed on the inner portion of said flexible memher,

said stop being engageable with said sealed top and bottom edges of the pocket and limiting the travel of said masking member.

9. The structure of claim 8 in which a finger gripping tab is affixed to the edge of said masking member and said stop member projects integrally from the attached portion thereof into said pocket.

10. The structure of claim 8 in which said masking member is of heat sealable thermoplastic sheet material and a heat sealable strip having interfitting means extending therefrom for mating with said tracking means is Welded at the inner edge of the masking member,

said stop member being of heat sealable material with an attachment portion Welded at said inner edge adjacent the top of the masking member,

the said stop member projecting from the attachment portion into said pocket and a section extending oppositely from said attachment portion and hingedly related thereto, said latter section forming a finger gripping tab adjacent the said tracking means for slidably manipulating said masking member relative to said support.

11. Masking apparatus for program teaching pages having a series of sequentially arranged questions and answers in adjacent columnar areas on said pages and comprising a supporting panel member,

a flexible masking flap member superposed thereon,

means interconnecting said members for sliding movement of the masking member over said support panel and including a strip having one edge fixed relative to said support member with spaced parallel tracking means slidably interengaging said masking member at the edge of the latter,

a projecting member carried by said masking member at the upper edge thereof and extending into the area between said aifixed edge and tracking means of the strip,

said latter strip at the bottom thereof having an extension reversely folded thereon and forming an abutment pocket engageable by said projection to limit travel of said masking member.

12. Program teaching mask apparatus for programmed pages comprising,

a mounting support member having an elongated slide,

a masking flap member having an elongated edge portion slidably engaging said slide,

said mounting member holding said flap member in predetermined overlying relation parallel to an unbound free edge of a programmed page positioned between said flap and mounting members,

stop projection means on said masking flap member extending therefrom adjacent said slidable edge portion,

said mounting support member having abutment means in the path of travel of said stop projection means of the flap member and limiting travel of the latter in at least one direction of movement relative to the support member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. "PROGRAM TEACHING" MASK APPARATUS FOR PAGES PREPARED WITH A SERIES OF SEQUENTIALLY ARRANGED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN ADJACENT COLUMNAR AREAS ON SAID PAGES COMPRISING, A SUPPORT MEMBER, A MASKING MEMBER VERTICALLY SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT, MEANS HOLDING SAID MASKING MEMBER IN A PREDETERMINED POSITIONAL RELATION TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SLIDE, 